Leading Comics Vol 1 1

"Seven Soldiers of Victory: "Blueprint for Crime"": At the hilltop mansion of a master criminal known as the Hand, a doctor issues a fatal diagnosis; the Hand had only a month to live. Deciding to make the most of his limited time, the Hand puts together a group c

Synopsis for Seven Soldiers of Victory: "Blueprint for Crime"

At the hilltop mansion of a master criminal known as the Hand, a doctor issues a fatal diagnosis; the Hand had only a month to live. Deciding to make the most of his limited time, the Hand puts together a group consisting of the cleverest crooks and gangsters, in order to pull off the greatest crime wave of his career.

Headlines soon pour in, the Red Dragon, Professor Merlin, Big Caesar, and the Needle are broken out of their respective prisons. Meanwhile, a raid of the Dummy's hideout turns sour after a tip from the Hand gives the Dummy plenty of time to get away while his thugs keep the cops distracted with a shootout.

Soon, the Hand meets with the five criminals at his home. He tells them of his plan, to make them his five "fingers", each performing a robbery that will put them in direct opposition with the best crimefighters, such as Green Arrow and the Crimson Avenger. The team of confident crooks felt that their own intellect, combined with the Hand's help, could overcome any obstacle they face. So it is that the Hand places an ad in the papers, challenging the Green Arrow, Crimson Avenger, Shining Knight, Star-Spangled Kid, and the Vigilante to participate in "the greatest criminal chase in history", giving instructions to meet at the auditorium in Gotham City fore more information.

In the Gotham Auditorium, the heroes gather together, and right on time, a screen flickers on revealing the image of the Hand! The Hand tells them where each crime will take place, letting them decide for themselves which crook to go after. Green Arrow suspects there is something much more sinister behind this event and suggests they meet back here a week later. But for right now, they all agree to divide up and track down the five criminals.

Synopsis for Green Arrow & Speedy: "Death Valley"

Green Arrow and his young protege Speedy choose to hunt down Professor Merlin in Death Valley. Driving down the dusty road in their Arrowcar, they are suddenly beset upon by Professor Merlin in a plane! The aircraft drops a bomb, which Green Arrow destroys by shooting an arrow at its detonator before it can reach them. The plane flies ahead of the Arrowcar, and as Green Arrow and Speedy watch, another bomb destroys a bridge over an oncoming canyon. Too late to turn or brake, Green Arrow speeds up, jumping the Arrowcar over the great ravine.